Kunstkamera: Is This the Weirdest Museum in St. Petersburg?

Museum of the Month is a series where I share my experiences of visiting unique and often strange museums from around the world. My aim is to rebuff the notion that museums are boring. Join me on my quest!

This museum has everything from Siamese twins to encephalitis-swollen skulls, and from a giant skeleton to jarred tumours. However, it isn’t for everyone so if you’re easily squeamish you might want to pass.

Obviously, I don’t think you should skip it, it’s a fascinating museum if a little odd, and old and dusty around the edges.

Interestingly, KunstKamera was the first museum in Russia. It was opened by Peter the Great in 1727 and is now currently housed inside the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. KunstKamera is now therefore a museum within a museum which should iron out any confusion for people looking for the KunstKamera museum – look for the Russian Museum of Ethnography and ye shall find!

True to his name, Peter the Great really was indeed a great man, one of the reasons he opened KunstKamera was to educate his country about science in order to combat prejudice. At that time in history people ascribed physical abnormalities or disabilities to supernatural powers so opening this museum was a way of raising the awareness of medical conditions that can be explained scientifically as opposed to make-belief nonsense.

His foreward thinking ways were in line with the Enlightenment school of thought, characterised by intellectual and scientific discovery. Originating in Western Europe, Enlightenment influenced Tsar Peter after a trip to Europe in the 17th Century. He used the principles of reason, scepticism and science to reform Russian Society at the time.

If you live in the UK and enjoy the idea of visiting a museum reminiscent of this place, I suggest the Hunterian Museum or the Grant Museum of Zoology. Both, which are located in London are utterly divine places. You can find my adopted Loris in the Grant Museum of Zoology. Just look at my baby… isn’t it cute?

Thinking of all the museums I’ve visited, KunstKamera is not only the weirdest museum in St. Petersburg, but probably in the whole of Russia!

Wow Russia, I’m so happy for you that you made it there, Shing 🙂 I’m always up for trying new adventures (within reason of course) and would definitely go to this museum. That is amazing that this was opened by Peter the Great and “to educate his country about science and combat prejudice”. I love history. Sorry I’ve been away but it’s been a very rough patch for me personally. I hope all is well with you, my friend 🙂

NOOOOOOO WWAAAAAAYYYYY! Years before I went to Russia I had read that Rasputin’s pickled penis could be found somewhere in a jar but then when I finally got round to visiting Russia my hopes of seeing it began to disappear! The more I read of its location the more it seemed to be an urban myth!

I was so close to going to the Sex Museum but I didn’t have time. However, had I known that Rasputin’s jewels were laid inside there I would have gone but I don’t ever recall reading anything about it on their website – surely if it were there they would have that information in big capital letters?!!!

Did you see it and do you have a post about this? I NEED to know more!!

Hi Nanda, glad you like the museum series! Ahhh I’ve been wanting to go to the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow ever since I went to the one in London at the beginning of the year! It is a bit creepy isn’t it? But highly delicious! 😀

Would you like to share your thoughts?

Your email address will not be published.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

About Me

Hi, I’m Shing from the UK. I love travelling and learning about different cultures, and I document it on here on The Culture Map. You will find information covering over 45 countries from my travels, but from these you will find a strong focus on Scandinavia and the Arctic – it may be chilly up there, but oh boy…. it’s beautiful!

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog & receive notifications of new posts by email.